Solons to House: Recall approved 2027 budget bill declared unconstitutional

MANILA, Philippines — Makabayan bloc lawmakers on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to recall the approved P7.2-trillion budget bill.

This call comes following the declaration of the Supreme Court (SC) that the key provisions of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 national budgets were “unconstitutional.”

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said they welcome SC’s decision.

He noted that it vindicated his group’s opposition to the passage of the P7.2-trillion budget bill on the third and final reading last October 12. 

READ: SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

“Our call is directly for the House, for it to recall the approved budget because many provisions declared by the [Supreme Court] as unconstitutional can be found in the proposed  budget,” Tinio said in an online media briefing. 

He reveals that such unconstitutional techniques include the congressional insertions, particularly on prohibited lump sum, and the transfer of funds to unprogrammed appropriations. 

“The House must fix its own mess in the 2027 proposed budget,” he recommended.

In its decision, the SC declared that Congress committed grave abuse of discretion as it increased national budgets beyond the recommended appropriations of the president. 

The SC stated as unconstitutional Congress’ increase of unprogrammed appropriations by P449.5 billion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the increase of the Special Road Fund by P17.9 billion in the 2025 GAA, and the Special Provisions 1(a) and (b) under the 2026 GAA. 

READ: House approves P7.2-trillion 2027 budget bill on final reading

The Makabayan bloc criticized the 2027 proposed national budget as it described the congressional allocations as prone to corruption, patronage-driven, and pork-ridden.

Tinio, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, and Gabriela Women’s Party Sarah Elago are among the 13 lawmakers who voted against the passage of the 2027 budget bill in the final reading. 

The lawmaker also reiterated his call for the lower chamber to release the full and detailed report on the amendments made into the proposed national budget for next year for transparency.

This request came after the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee recommended P116 billion in amendments.

The significant realignments include appropriations for infrastructure, agriculture sector, education cluster, and state assistance programs. /apl